Direct answer
For RN renewal, Louisiana recognizes 30 approved continuing-education contact hours or 900 employer-verified nursing practice hours during the two-year licensure period.
Louisiana factual snapshot for this workflow
| Reviewed item | Jurisdiction-specific detail |
|---|---|
| Authority | Louisiana State Board of Nursing |
| Public verification | Louisiana State Board of Nursing public verification |
| Renewal cycle | Biennial |
| Renewal deadline | The regular RN renewal period is generally October 1 through December 31, followed by a late-renewal period January 1 through January 31; licenses expire January 31. |
| Continuing competence | For RN renewal, Louisiana recognizes 30 approved continuing-education contact hours or 900 employer-verified nursing practice hours during the two-year licensure period. |
| Fees | The RN renewal base fee is $100; the portal can add transaction or late charges. Confirm the displayed total. |
| Compact status | Compact jurisdiction |
| Credentials | RN, APRN |
| Phone | (225) 755-7500 |
| Physical location | 17373 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70810 |
For Louisiana, 5 primary official source records and 9 labeled official destinations support this jurisdiction guide. Source verification dates are shown separately from editorial release dates.
Continuing education or continuing competence rule
For RN renewal, Louisiana recognizes 30 approved continuing-education contact hours or 900 employer-verified nursing practice hours during the two-year licensure period.
Mandatory topics, pathways and conditions
- Choose and document the applicable CE or practice-hour pathway.
- APRN licensees must also maintain required national certification and role-specific conditions.
- Use official Board guidance for accepted documentation.
Credential-specific checks
Louisiana routing note: The Louisiana State Board of Nursing regulates RN and APRN practice. LPN licensure is handled separately by the Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners, so users must route by credential.
For Louisiana, rN: verify the exact credential record, renewal rule and any credential-specific education or practice requirements.
For Louisiana, aPRN: verify the exact credential record, renewal rule and any credential-specific education or practice requirements.
Louisiana RN: verify that the Louisiana State Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Louisiana credentials.
Louisiana APRN: verify that the Louisiana State Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Louisiana credentials.
Keep evidence for an audit
Retain CE certificates or employer verification supporting the selected renewal pathway.
- Keep certificates and provider details for the published retention period.
- Confirm course completion falls inside the correct renewal period.
- Do not assume RN and APRN requirements are identical.
- Check whether the provider reports electronically or whether you must upload documentation.
Common CE problems
CE or competence is not accepted
Compare the course, provider, date, credential and documentation with the exact Louisiana rule: For RN renewal, Louisiana recognizes 30 approved continuing-education contact hours or 900 employer-verified nursing practice hours during the two-year licensure period. Retain evidence and use the authority’s upload or audit instructions.
Wrong credential rule
Return to the official source and match RN, LPN/LVN, APRN, first-renewal, certificate or assistant requirements before purchasing additional coursework.
Course not accepted
Confirm provider approval, topic, completion date and documentation against the authority instructions. A generic completion certificate does not prove acceptance.
Fraud and privacy safety
- Begin every Louisiana transaction from a reviewed authority domain (www.lsbn.state.la.us, www.lsbpne.com) or a source-reviewed link on this guide.
- Do not give a caller payment-card details, a password or a one-time code merely because the caller claims to represent Louisiana State Board of Nursing.
- If threatened with immediate suspension or arrest, end the call and verify the issue through (225) 755-7500 or the secure Louisiana account.
- For Louisiana, use NCSBN License Verification Guidance to confirm current status rather than a private lookup page or emailed screenshot.
- Upload identity, background, education or legal documents only through a secure method explicitly named by Louisiana State Board of Nursing.
- Before paying, verify the credential, transaction and amount against the current Louisiana instructions; save the receipt and then verify the public record.
- For Louisiana, report a suspected licensing impersonation or phishing attempt to the authority and the relevant consumer-protection or law-enforcement channel.
Frequently asked questions
How much continuing education is required in Louisiana?
For RN renewal, Louisiana recognizes 30 approved continuing-education contact hours or 900 employer-verified nursing practice hours during the two-year licensure period.
Are there mandatory topics?
Choose and document the applicable CE or practice-hour pathway. APRN licensees must also maintain required national certification and role-specific conditions. Use official Board guidance for accepted documentation.
Should I keep completion records?
Retain CE certificates or employer verification supporting the selected renewal pathway.
Can CE rules differ by credential?
Yes. RN, LPN/LVN, APRN, first-renewal, assistant and certificate-specific rules can differ.
What if CE does not appear in my account?
Compare the course, provider, date, credential and documentation with the exact Louisiana rule: For RN renewal, Louisiana recognizes 30 approved continuing-education contact hours or 900 employer-verified nursing practice hours during the two-year licensure period. Retain evidence and use the authority’s upload or audit instructions.
Can I use any online course?
No. Confirm accepted providers, course categories, mandatory topics and completion dates before purchasing a course.
Is CE always required for every renewal?
Not necessarily. Some jurisdictions use practice hours, competency pathways, exemptions or credential-specific requirements. Use the exact official rule.
Where do I verify CE information?
Use the official continuing education or competence source listed in the official-resource directory.
Source-reviewed official resources
Louisiana Renewal FAQs and Nurse Portal ↗
Louisiana Renewal FAQs and Nurse Portal is the reviewed Louisiana renewal destination on www.lsbn.state.la.us. Confirm the credential, deadline, and amount before submitting payment.
Louisiana State Board official renewal instructions identifying the active season and Nurse Portal · July 28, 2026Louisiana Licensure Verification ↗
Official Louisiana State Board of Nursing verification and license lookup route.
Current primary official source · July 28, 2026Louisiana Applications ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · July 27, 2026Louisiana Nurse Licensure Compact ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · July 27, 2026Louisiana State Board of Nursing ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · July 27, 2026Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · July 27, 2026Nurse Licensure Compact ↗
National compact resource used with the Louisiana status recorded as Compact jurisdiction; individual eligibility depends on the actual license designation and primary state of residence.
National official source · July 28, 2026NCLEX Official Website ↗
Official NCLEX information for examination candidates applying through Louisiana State Board of Nursing; passing the exam does not itself create a Louisiana license.
National official source · July 28, 2026NCSBN License Verification Guidance ↗
National licensing guidance used to interpret verification categories; the local Louisiana source remains Louisiana State Board of Nursing public verification.
National official source · July 28, 2026Nursys QuickConfirm and e-Notify ↗
National participating-board service used alongside Louisiana State Board of Nursing public verification for Louisiana; follow Louisiana State Board of Nursing instructions for endorsement or monitoring.
National official service · July 28, 2026Official sources reviewed
Louisiana State Board of Nursing ↗
Reviewed July 27, 2026
Louisiana Renewal FAQs ↗
Reviewed July 27, 2026
Louisiana Applications ↗
Reviewed July 27, 2026
Louisiana Nurse Licensure Compact ↗
Reviewed July 27, 2026
Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners ↗
Reviewed July 27, 2026